Work cycle timer



4 Sheeis-Sheet 1 c. H. BISSELL wonx CYCLE TIMER Filed Jan. 18, 1932 Aug. 11, 1936.

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WORK CYCLE TIMER Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IllIIIIIIIIIIIIIliilIlIlIlIlIlIlllUlt INVENTORQ ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 11, 1936. c, ss 2,050,825

WORK CYCLE TIMER Filed Jan. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ey-JF- .Ey-J

Miltfiikcei Gross Sfpeet' 55 Green 9 Q fife/1.

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Patented Aug. 11, 1936 PATENT OFFICE WORK CYCLE TIMER Carl B. Bissell, Syracuse, N. Y., asslgnor to Grouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 18, 1932, Serial No. 587,386 In Great Britain June 12, 1931 1 Claim.

This invention relates to work cycle timers, particularly a timer for controlling the display of stop or red and go or green signals at street intersections, and has for its object, a particularly simple and efllcient mechanism by which the cams of the timer can be adjusted to split the trailic cycle into stop and go periods of different durations to suit conditions and to adjust the timing and the extent of the intermediate or amber signals.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had 15 to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the cabinets for the timer, the door beingrremoved showing the manuals on the face of the adjusting mechanism.

Figure 2 is an end view, partly in section, looking to the left in Figure 1, the casing being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view 25 of the timer shaft and cams thereon.

Figures 4, 5, 6, 'l, 8, 9, and 10, are detail views of the timer cam sections.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the timer cams and its follower.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, of another timer cam and its follower.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one type of signals used in this system illustrating the wiring thereof.

35 This timer comprises generally, a center drive shaft, a plurality of nested shafts mounted concentric with the drive shaft, cams including sections mounted respectively on the nested shafts one of the cams having a section mounted on the drive shaft, members as rock arms on the nested shafts respectively by which any one of the nested shafts can be turned relatively to the other nested shafts and the drive shaft, a cou pling member mounted on the center shaft and common to all of the rock arms, the rock arms lying adjacent said coupling member, and means for disconnecting the rock arms from and connecting the same to, the coupling member for the purpose of adjusting any one or more nested shafts relatively to the other nested shafts and the center shaft, the rock arms and tie coupling member being mounted on the face plate of the housing of the timer where it is readily accessible.

i designates the center drive shaft, 2, 3, and l,

the nested shafts mounted concentrically around,

the drive shaft l and normally rotating as a unit therewith and shiftable about their common axes relative to each other and to the center shaft I to vary the timing of the cams. The shafts 2, 3, I, are shifted by manual means -to be described. 5

The cams are sectional in order to be adjusted to conform to different conditions, or for accomplishing the following results:

(a) Splitting up the trafilc cycle into subdivisions of different lengths, as for instance, fifty seconds go on each street; or 60 seconds 'go on the main, or 40 seconds go on the cross street with 40 seconds stop on the main street, and 60 seconds stop on the cross street etc. The cams are adjustable to split up the tramc cycle into 15 any desired proportion.

(b) To shift the time that the amber lights will occur in accordance with the adjustments of the cams to split up the trafllc cycle, or in other words, to locate the amber lights so that they will occur in proper relation to the change of signals from green to red, andred to green on both streets.

(0) To vary the extent of time of the amber signals on each street from zero to a maximum of say 20 seconds, or cut out the amber signal on both streets, or on either one street and not on the other.

The traffic cycle splitting adjustment (a) is effected by shifting the handle 5 (Figure 1) over the dial 6 and the adjusting (b) of the amber light by the handle I. The handle 1 is normally clamped to a segment 8 to which the handle 5 is attached, so that when the handle 5 is operated to split the traflic cycle, the handle 1 moves therewith and thus shifts the amber cam so that the amber light will occur with proper relation to the red and green signals.

To efiect adjustment (0) that is vary the extent of time of the amber light on the main street 40 from zero to maximum, as from zero to 20 seconds, the handle I is shifted relatively to the segment 8 over the scale 8 on the segment 8. The corresponding change of time on the cross street, that is, changing the time the amber is displayed from zero to maximum, say to 20 seconds, is effected by the handle 9 which is movable over scale 9.

l2 designates generally the cam which controls the display of the red and green signals on both streets, and also the amber signals.

l3 designates the cam; for controlling the amber on the main street, and Hi the cam for controlling the amber on the cross street. The cam 12 is composed of three sections I2, I2

- lobe l5.

and i2, and the section I2 also has an additional lobe ii. The section I2 is fixed on the cam shaft l by set screws 18 and is thus fixed or anchored to the cam shaft. This cam section l2 has a high part I! and the lobe it, which is ofl'set therefrom by posts I8, is another high part diametrically opposite the high part H. The cam section I2 with its lobe l5 coacts with a pair of followers i8 and 20, Figure 11. which actuate the spring arm 2| having a double contact 22 at its end which coacts alternately with contacts 23 and 24. When the contact 22 is engaged with the contact 23, red will be displayed on the cross street and when the contact 22 is engaged with the contact 24, red will be displayed on the main street. The lobe i5 and the cam sections l2 and I2 which coact therewith, as will be presently described, act on the follower I s so that the contact arm 2| is pressed to the right (Figure 11) to engage the contact 24 and when the cam section l2 rotates so that the follower drops oif the lobe l5, or any extension thereof effected by the sections l2 -and l2, the operation of the contact arm 2| is controlled by the follower 20 riding up the high part I! which actuates the contact arm ,2l. to the left (Figure 11) carrying the contact 22 into engagement with the contact 23 displaying red on the cross street until the follower 20 drops on the high point l1.

In order to extend the red periodon the cross street and hence, as will be hereinafter described, extend the go period on the main street and correspondingly shorten the green on thecross street and red on the main street, the cam sections l2 and 12 are utilized or shifted, these being arranged side by side along side of the The section I2 is mounted on the sleeve or hollow shaft 2 nested around the timer shaft l and' it has a pin 26- (Figure 6) extending laterally therefrom through a slot 21 (Figure 5) in the cam section I2 The sleeve 2 is turned by means, as will be hereinafter described, and when turned first turns the cam l2 so that its lobe forms an extension of the lobe l5. During such turning, the pin travels along the sIot'2l until it reaches the end thereof where further hollow shaft 2 is actuated in a reverse direction by a spring S. The spring S is a coiled'spring for convenience encircling the shaft'i, and is anchored at its opposite'ends to the cam sections l2 and i2 respectively. The purpose of the spring S is to hold the section l2 which is loosely mounted, from rattling or loose shifting movement relatively to the section l2" in any adjustment of these sections.

The cam l3 (Figures 7 and B) which forconvenience is calledthe main street amber cam (although it will be understood that all the cams contribute to the control of all the signal colors) consists of two sections i3 and iii. The section The movement of. the section II in one direction is effected as stated by the pin 2! pressing against one end of the slot 21 and in the return direction when the I2 is mounted loosely on the shaft 2 but is connected to the cam section i2 on shaft i by a yoke 20, and as the section I2 is anchored to the timer shaft I, the section II is also fixed relatively to the timer shaft I. The section i2" is adjustable to extend the high portion of the section I! and is mounted onto a hollow shaft '3 nested around the hollow shaft 2, and this hollow shaft 3 is adjustable about its axis to shift the section li relatively to the section H to extend the latter. These two sections of the cam i3 coact with a suitable follower which controls the operation of a contact arm 30 (see Figure 12) having a double contact 2| thereon for coacting alternately with two contacts 22 and 33.

As seen in Figure 13, the contact arm 30 is in circuit with a binding post 34 which is connected in circuit with the contact 23 and the contact -32 is connected to a binding terminal 35 which is connected in circuit with the amber lights on 20 the main street. The contact 33 is connected to a binding terminal 36 which is connected'with the green lights on the street. Thus, when the cam l2 actuates the contact ,22 to engage the contact 23 so that red is displayed on the cross street, the cam l3 first actuates the contact. II to engage the contact 33 so that green is displayed on the main street and thereafter-actuates the contact arm 3| to engage the contact 3] with the contact 32 so that amber is displayed on the main street, as'long as the contact 22is engaged with the contact 23 by thejcam l2."-

l4 designates the cam for controlling the cross street amber. light. I In the wiring of the timer contacts Just'described the amber signals follow the green giving warning to the moving traflic that the stop signal is about'to be displayed but no amber follows the red or precedes the change to green from red.

The cam i4 comprises two sections i4 and I4, Figures 9 and 10, the section i4 being mounted upon a hollow shaft 4 nested around theliollow shaft 3. The section i4" is located between'the sections l3" and I3" of the earn it and coacts' with the follower which controlsthe contact arm 34. The two sections i4 and I4 are'connected by a yoke 38. The section l4 coacts with the follower whichscontrols the double contact arm 39 which coacts alternately with contacts 40 and 4!. The contact 40 controls the cross street'aniber, and the contact 4i controls the crossstrect green. The contact arm 29 is connected y a wire, to the binding post 42 which is connected to the contact 24 which controls the red "onthe inain street and coacts with the contact '2'! controlled by the main cam l2. The contact 4! is connected ma binding post 4; which is connected to. the" cross-street amber lights, and'the contact, isconn'ected by a wire to a binding post 44 which is connected to the green light of the cross street. The contact arm 2| is connected by a wire to a binding post 45 which is connected in thefe'ed circuit. This binding post, 45 is also connectedv to acontact arm 46 having a contact 41 thereon-- which coactswith a contact 44. The contact '4! is connected to a binding post connected in all the amber light circuits. The contact arm 41 is controlled by a cam ill on the cam shaft whichcoacts, with a followerwhich vibrates the contact arm 46. The cam III is provided throughout its circumference with points arranged close together so that the contact arm 4 is vibrated to produce flashing amber. The flashingamber is used only when them and greenliglits not" used, and the flashing amber feature forms no part of this invention, nor does this means for holding the contact arm 45 normally spaced apart from the contacts 48 or out of operation, or for vibrating into contact therewith, and for holding all the contact arms 22, 30 and 39 from coacting with their contacts, while the flashing amber is in operation.

In the operation of the signals at an intersection, the cams may be adjusted to split the trafilc cycle into divisions of any desired length as to display the green and red signals an equal time on both streets, or to display them in unequal periods as for instance, green sixty seconds on the main street, and forty seconds on the cross street with a corresponding display of red forty seconds on the main street, and sixty seconds on the cross street. Or the trafllc cycle may be split up in some instances to give the cross street a greater go period and less stop period than the main street.

Owing to the mounting of the cams on the various nested shafts 2, 3, 4, the cams are readily adjustable to split the traffic cycle into any desired subdivisions and to locate the amber lights so that they will occur at the proper intervals relatively to the red and green signals and to adjust the time of the amber from zero to maxi-. mum.

The splitting of the traihc cycle is effected by turning the hollow shaft 2 which adjusts the sections I2 and |2 of the cam l2 as before pointed out, and thus extends or shortens the time the contact 2| is engaged with the contact 23. Ad-

justing of the cam sections l2 and I2 to lengthen the red on the cross street would correspondingly lengthen the green on the main street as contact 25 which controls cross street red is connected to contact 2| which controls main street, green. This hollow shaft 2 has a radially extending arm or quill 5| at its front end on the front side of the face plate of the frame of the timer in position to be engaged by the stem 5 of the handle 5 which is movable with the dial 5. This handle 5 is a knob or nut which screws onto the stem 5 extending through the coupling member, or disk 52, on which the dial 6 is provided, into position to engage the arm 5| on one side, as seen in Figure 1, the stem or pin extending through thesegment 5 which is loosely mounted on the front end of the timer shaft I. This pin 5, as well as the pin 54, and the pin on which the nut 9 threads, is a bolt extending through the slot in the disk 52, and having a head on the inner side of the disk 52 which is clamped by the tightening up of the handle 5' against the inner side of the disk 52, while the nut is tightened against the segment A. The head of the bolt has a shoulder or pin extension which coacts with the quill l5. The disk 52 on which the dial 6 is provided, is mounted on the timer shaft l to rotate therewith. When the handle 5 is loosened or unscrewed so that it is not clamped to the disk 52, movement of the handle in one direction as counterclockwise (Figure 1) will press the stem thereof against the quill or arm 5|, and hence shift the hollow shaft 2 about its axis and shift the cam section |2. Movement of the handle 5 and hence, the cam section i2 in one direction lengthens or extends the high point of the cam I02 and hence, correspondingly shortens the valleys of the cam so that the contact 22 remains in engagement with the contact 23 a shorter period so that the green on the main street is displayed longer and same length of time as the green on the main street, because the contact 22 is connected to the binding post 45 and controls red on the cross street. Movement of the handle 5 in the other direction lengthens the cam to lengthen the red on the cross street and hence correspondingly shortens the go on the main street.

The changing of the main street amber is controlled by the cam l3 and adjusted by turning the sleeve 3 having an arm 53 at its outer end which coacts with a stem 54 of the handle 'I' which is similar to the handle 5, the stem extending through the slot 55 in the segment 8, and by reason of the handle I, which is a clamping nut threading on the stem 54 is normally clamped to the segment 8 and moves with the segment 8 when it is shifted by the handle 5 so that the occurrence of the amber following the green signal is automatically adjusted when the adjustment of the trafllc cycle into subdivisions is being effected by shifting the handle 5. v

To adjust the time extent of the amber signals from zero to maximum, the handle I is'shifted along the slot 55 relatively to the segment I which thus actuates the arm 53 and the hollow shaft 3 and the adjustable cam section It". The extent of time of the amber signal on the cross street from zero to maximum is determined by shifting the handle 9 with its stem along the slot 56 and thus shifting the arm 51 mounted on the hollow shaft 4 which shifts the cam section H. The stems .of each of the handles 5, I, and 9 thrust against like sides of the various arms 5|, 53, and 51, and when either of these handles are moved in a counterclockwise direction, the corresponding arm is moved in a counterclockwise direction. However, the stems or pins are pressed against the arms by springs as 60 which permit .the pins to separate from the arms 5|, 53, and 51 when the corresponding handle is moved in a clockwise direction. When any of the handles are set in a clockwise direction, the pins become spaced apart from the corresponding arm, and the'corresponding arm remains stationary until it is picked up by the stem or pin in the normal operation of the timer. v

The disk 52, as before stated, is connected to the timer shaft l to rotate therewith. It has an annular flange 5| formed with notches at its edge 62 and scales along the notches. The notches coact with a so-called offset arm 520 adjustable along the notches to adjust the timer at one intersection relative to that at another so that the green signal will be offset or occur say ten seconds after the green signal at the preceding intersection. This feature forms no part of this invention, but is the subject matter of the system application 460,771. The shaft l is connected to a motor through suitable gearing, as in said application 460,771.

As seen in Figure 11, the follower l8, which coacts with the cam l2 which operates the contact arm 2|, is pivoted at Ill to a suitable support II and is acted upon by a spring 12 which tends to hold the followed l9 agaihst the cam, and the follower 20 is pivoted on the same pivot Ill and is pushed against the cam by a spring I3, the spring 13 being stronger than the spring 12. The follower 20 also has an arm 14 thrusting against the follower IS. The construction is such that when the follower 20 is being acted upon by a high point of the cam l2, the follower I9 is free to enter a valley of the cam I2 being pressed by the spring 12 and carry the contact 22 into engagement with the contact 23, but when the follower 20 enters a valley of the cam ii, the spring 13 being stronger than the spring 12 will force the follower i9 outwardly away from. the cam, and cause the contact 22 to engage the contact 24.

The followers for the other cams are illustrated in Figure 12 in connection with the section l3 of the cam l3. l5 designates the follower carried by a block 18 pivoted at H to a suitable support 18 and being pressed by a spring 19 against the cam. The block; I6 carries the contact army 30 which has a double contact 3i coacting with the contacts 32 and 33. The spring 19, when it is free to do so, compresses the follower 15 into the valley and causes the arm 30 to engage the contacts 3i and 32. When the follower I5 is pressed outwardly by the high point or lobe of the cam, the arm 30 is actuated to engage the contacts 3| and 32. The construction of the follower coacting with the cam li -is similar to that shown in Figure 11.

During the rotation of the timer shaft i, the current passes from the terminal or binding post 45 which is connected to one side of the feed circuit, through the wire, to the double contact 22. Assuming that the contact arm 2i has been actuated by the cam l2 to engage the contact 23, then the current passes through the contact 23, binding post 34 and thence to the red lights on the cross street, and also through a conductor to the double contact 3| which has been actuated by the cam i3 to engage contact 33 so that the current passes to the binding post 36, thence to the green lights on the main street. After the green lights have been displayed a predetermined period and while contact 22 is still held by cam i 2 engaged with contact 23, the cam l3 actuates the contact arm 30 to carry the contact 3| into engagement with the contact 32 so that the current flows to the amber signals on the main street following the green signal. Thus, while red is displayed on the cross street, green is displayed on the main street, and the intermediate amber. signal is displayed on the main street, before the red on the cross street changes to green. As the cam shaft continues to rotate the cam l2 shifts the contact arm 2i to carry the contact 22 into engagement with the contact 24 so that red is displayed onv the main street through the binding post 42, this binding post being connected to the contact 39 controlled by the cam I4 engaging the contact 3! controlled by the cam l4 engaging the contact 39 with the contact 4|, thus through the binding post 44 displaying green on the cross street while red is displayed on the main street. Thereafter, the cam l4 actuates the contact 35 into engagement with the contact 40 and through the binding post 43 displaying amber= on the cross street before the change from green to red on the cross street. This cycle is repeated as long as the timer is in operation.

The cam section I2 is thus one section mounted on and rotatable with the drive shaft I. l2= is a second cam section rotatable with the as by a yoke 38, and located adjacent the thirdsection l3 and fourth section i3".

The first and second sections l2, it", constitute one cam; the third and fourth sections l3, l3", and sixth section I 4, constitute another cam, and the fifth section l4 a third cam.

l2 is a seventh section which is rotatable relatively to all the shafts I, 2, 3, and 4, and merely forms a filler or extension between the lobe I! of section l2 and the lobe or high portion of section l2 when these lobes are widely separated or the section l2 fills the valley between the lobe I! and the lobes of the cam section l2 when they are separated by the turning of the shaft 2 relatively to the drive shaft.

What I claim is:

In an electric traffic signal cycle timer, a center drive shaft, and a plurality of nested shafts mounted concentric around the center shaft.

three cams mounted on the shaft including a.-

stop cam, and a pair of go and amber cams, each cam including a section mounted on the center shaft, and a section mounted on one of the nested shafts, and the nested shafts being adjustable in a rotary direction relatively to each other and to the center shaft, and means for.

normally holding them in their adjusted position, whereby the center and nested shafts rotate as a unit, contact arms for controlling the stop,

go, and caution circuits having followers coacting with the cams, contacts with which said armsare movable into and out of engagement, andterminals connected to said contacts, one for each, said terminals being connected respectively in the go, stop, and caution circuits, 9, feed ci-r-' cuit terminal connected to the contact arm actuated by the stop cam, and conductors betweenthe terminals for the contacts with which the stop arm coacts and the'contact arms with the go and caution cams.

CARL H. BISSELI;

coacting 

